The symmetry of riding the 20+km to Shoreham-by-Sea station, train to London, in order to ride back to Shoreham-by-Sea held much appeal. The sky was clear and as soon as I turned onto the A283 , a large creamy ball was visible in the night sky just above the hedge line. When partially hidden by mature trees, it created an arboreal kaleidoscope effect. A lovely start!
Plenty of peeps at Victoria, much more lively than in july, men in dinner jackets, ladies in short tight bandages, inebriated commuters heading home. A dash along Victoria Street, around Parliament Square, over Westminster Bridge and left to Southbank to meet the 40+ bunch, just in time to sign in with Ride Leader Jenny before the safety session. The warmth revealed many riders with tanned forearms and thighs, unusually on show for late september. The balmy evening obviously encouraged many locals to use the outdoor spaces at various pubs, clubs or hostelries
en route out of Town.
Taking CS7, trundling through the suburbs, passing the delightful pond at Carshalton and soon up and over the North Downs. The climb near Chipstead was followed by a super descent that I do not recall from previously, possibly because the road was dry. This was not to last long. Cloud cover increased, the moon merely a small glow, the air felt moist. Droplets were visible in the glare of our lights, yet without becoming a dull drizzle. By Burstow it was noticeably damp as we relished the customary superb service from the Scout group.
Saddles wiped of heavy dew and some having donned various warmer accessories, our Leader led off on her Brommie (B) festooned with multicoloured lights. She was flanked by 2 other B's, plus Mr Orange's B. At some point, I pondered the vision of a Fridays ride being led by 4 Bromptons. There was at least one more, as
@CharlieB came on his 'heavy' B. He may well have regretting this well before the top of Turners Hill, where any chilled peep was now cosily warm. There were 2 recumbents, one making his first Fridays outing.
After Lower Beeding, we swiftly took the narrow, winding and rolling Sussex lanes, the sky imperceptibly lightening under the low dank cloud. The group now strung out and waymarking was a contemplative time. No sounds. No buildings. Several lights edging closer spied through hedges. A slightly muffled 'all-up'. Myself and
@Gordon P rode on, moving marginally quicker than the TECs. We agreed this was an enchanting time of a Fridays ride - the mist, trees eerily silhouetted beyond the field boundaries, distant dwellings, occasional dog barks, bats flitting frighteningly close to us, we were alone together, yet knowing TECs not far behind and a waymarker would appear at a junction soon.
Fridays' fauna always fascinates; the ubiquitous urban fox near Hackbridge, little birdsong as they prepare for autumn and of course this being the sticks, the sheeps, coos and 'osses. At the roadside, with varying degrees of sadness, the deceased: a pigeon, a badger and a deer.
After Steyning, the short, sharp incline of Annington Hill and roll down to the A27 crossing, made much easier by being surprisingly closed to eastbound traffic. Crossing the River Adur over the wooden ancient toll bridge, we stopped to admire the Shoreham Airshow Crash Memorial. Still, the very low mist shrouded Lancing College chapel perched on the hill, usually visible from afar. Knowing the café would not yet be open, we chose to take a mini-tour of old and new Shoreham town - St Marys church, local flint walls, terraced housing architecture, stall holders setting up for market, stopping on the Adur Ferry bridge, houseboats grounded on the mud due to low tide, RNLI station and lighthouse. Negotiating the footway over the locks, we arrived at Southwick beach where 3 early swimmers were enjoying the calm, flat sea and looking over the Channel was a grey haze, an almost indiscernible horizon between sea and sky. Except for the ghostly outline of a tanker drifting east so slowly it seemed anchored.
Wondering why the front of the peloton had not yet arrived we sat down to order better-than-anticipated breakfast (better than Madeira café, not as good as Lobster Pot) to watch early joggers, a cyclist waiting for a riding pal, dog walkers and 2 surfers. Bizarre that surfers would want to go out on water that was as flat and calm as a flat and calm thing. And folk say we nightriders are mad!
No local bar was open before 10.30 for rehydration, so decided to join @rb for the first part of his SMRbtH, as we rode to the south end of the Downs Link and headed north to Steyning where he carried on northwards and I went west . Back home by 10.30, just as the bar at Carats was opening. Mine is better stocked. Afternoon nap followed by home made pizza in the evening, washed down with a delightful bottle of montepulciano d'abruzzo I missed with my friday night pasta.
Only my second FNR this year, good as ever and nice to ride to Shoreham ending at the coast. Thanks to all.
p.s. hoping someone can post/send a link of the last 5 km, so I can see where the ride should have gone between the toll bridge and the beach!